New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-26
The DEBATE on THE LEAGUE.
MR.. GLADSTONE MOVES HIS ADDRESS.

BITRARY Observation-Disclosures TO LAY
HIS PAPERS BEFORE THE HOUSE.
LONDON, Aug. 25.-Mr. Gladstone was greeted Win
cheers In the House of Commons this evening when ne
to move his resolution THAT humble address
be presented to the Queen representing that the Nceroy
of Ireland has lamed the National League danger
GUS association; information has been furnished
to Parliament 10 Justify the proclamation ny virtue OF
which Her Msjesty's subjects are TO be rendered laoe
to be punished as criminals. without judicial inquiry
into the nature of their acts and that this House. IN the
absence of suoh information prays that sadiproamaon
shall continue in force AS othe ASSOCIATION named
and described therein"
Mr. Gladstone said that the Irish Vlceroy in declaring
that the League had melted to violence must have acted
on information; but where was infornatonl The
Irish chiefs had right 10 demand 10 know the grounds
which the Government had acted II the facts were
Withheld the Opposition must forthwith urge three
propositions upon the House and the Government.
First-That it a slight almost outrage, on the
dignity of Parliament TO suppose that 1t to discharge
such an important statutory duty without knowing the
grounds
secondlyThat it reduced to utter destruction and to
an absudty the main contention that the Government
advanced during the discussion OF the Crimes Act that
the safeguard promised had proved farcc.
He asked what the value or meaning OF Parla-
mentsy approval given in ignorance OF the factsf why
not follow taken by Wellington and Peel In
1929 regarding the Catholic League and suppress 1t
Thirdy-what could the House think Of information
that they must thus know would not bear the light
lCheers.
Mr. Gladstone said that he had always conended that
the Government were lesisating against combinations
apart from crime and the time for the Govern
ment TO show that he and his friends wrong. But
IT,, Government shrank from the test and declined the
challenge They had substituted an arbitrary will for
regular legal action. This principle most danger
and disgracefu one in any country, ana especially
in Ireland. Law in Ireland still trial. great
dfnin
locally were not in sympathy with the feelings Of the
people The proclamation of the National League. Mr.
Gladstone declared was near approach te declaration
OF war the Irish people The people OF Ire
land generally sympathized with the League
because they believed that it had been their salvation
Parnelite cheers Nobody did thing for tho tenants
until the League was founded The Government were
pressing Ireland very hard and ii evident tna they
intended to work ani act by summary jurisdiction Ihe
Government action absolutely excluded the House from
connection with the great duty deyolyug upon ~ under
the statute. Their cocnizance Of THIS proclamation was
Toend rr Womb be nothing but the absolute un.
mitigaed arbitrary act of the Irish Executive, which
was necessarily partisan. he hobea 'nso n1a
pressure. They would not have TO suffer long.
il certain that they would not obey the law through
fear Icheers but from strong, vivid buoyant nope
which, at the last election was not damaged aHd
which brighter aud hvelier. lCheers.l Inc
Irish believed mat the Governments policy han hol mo
sanction of the British Nation lirish cheers The
foundation slipping fGotu under men,
and their action ~ reference 10 nc proclamation oI ie
League showed that their strength was fading Ireland
seeing this trusted the hnssh Nation TO Hhl her rea
sonabe wishes and was convinced That her expectations
would not be disappointed
Nj BaliOnr said that sir Gadsoue would have been
had he rested his argument on the allegation that
the House ignorant Of the grounds for the pocana-
on rather than on defence OF tue League lho Gov
ernment's difficulty Le finding of evidence 10
justify the proclamation but the selecting o! u from ho
enormous mass evidence they possessed There was
of the local newspapers without going lno tAe
Governments confidential reports Mr. Baliour argued
that when Mr. Gladstone proclaimed the Land League he
dld 30 when Mr. Parne imprisoi ied and when Par
Lament sitting and tha he afforded no iuio'na
ton to any one concerned. He quoted al length from
documents show that the League was guilty o boy
cotIng, coercng and bsgatiug inrsctons OF the law
sir william Vernon Harcourt asked the speaker
whether the documents from which he quoted Woud be
Mr.. BafoHr refused to subm the documents and pro
ceedng narrated other instances OF The Leagues una"
sir William asked the Speaker whether Mr.. Bafour
yas bound O table the official documents cited.
The Speaker replied that Mr. Baliour WAS not bound
to table confidential documents but the case was differ
cnt with Official papers, which the House might want 10
verify. Opposition cheers Although Mr. Baioar was
justified in quoting from confidential documents, me
documents had not been tabled
Sir William Harcourt-After the Speakers ruling e1-
meet that tie papers will he tabled
Mr. Bafour shall do nothiag Of the kind Ny docu-
and nv own notes If the people realized the true
nature Of the League they would, REGARDLESS Oi creed
or uarty support the Government VI nl>tefld cheers
Mr. Baifour accused the Opposition through Mr. Glad
stone making themselves apOOgss iOr and therefore
Mr. Harrington Nalionalisp commented upon the
OF documents which the Government TO
fused table. lie said IL would be the duty OF tho
Lcague 10 continue to work and not to SHRINK from Tue
Mir Eucbanau Liberal nionisu said that the Govern
M nts action was ill-timed. Mr. Balfour had not given
far OF the dOBgs OF the League, whlch from
the reliable data in the possession OF the house
lad been LARGELY instrumental IN having rents reduced
Ireland The English people desired that the lTlsh
difficulty be treated amicably -
r. W Ru sell after remarkng that Mr.. Gladstone
,.I rueug
the coercion or The League, Dul had
That. having supported the Crimes bill. ne cod nnt
withhold from the Government the powers they de-
MIR Bradlaugh C;adical said that boy cotng was not
ueculiarly Irish institution, but invented In Eng
land TO externinatc the Irish. II the Governments
statements why had they not proclaimed the
League before association for the promotion OF
crime The country would Judge the coDduct oi thc
Government which obtained powers oseuslDly To sup
press crme but really 10 suppress polucal OrSah@d
ton which they dreaded
T. T. OCounor tNationasO said that the effect of the
proclamation would he to remove the partition eNsiing
between the trnantry and evcung landlords Admitting
that there had been few OF Intimidation, Inc
t,Oyernme Mt had ample power deal with thcn without
declaring the League. intimidation had not been uh
usual with English trades unions Where the League
strong there was niue trouole put "noio "s'h
there much trouble In many cases branches hau
dissolved by the Central Body for boyc0tung ana
other actions which the League disapproycd
On motion OF Sir c. o. Trevelyan the debate was ah
jonrned. ,,.
Forty Liberal members OF Parliament held meeilng
in the House OF Commons to-day and resolved 10 SUPPORT
lie League. twenty Other Liberal members Wrote
ters isng sympathy with the oil the meet
ing. There we're no party leaders present
THE POWERS AND PRINCE FERDINAND